AfriGeneas Military Research Forum

Lee wrote:
The "A" forms, those from June 5, 1917 had the lower left hand corner torn off if the draftee was black. Later, the B and C forms had a box to check for race.
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Hi Lee,

I ain't paranoid, but.........

I grew up in a community that had a very small percentage of AA's and EVERY AA male that I knew was drafted. Only those who couldn't pass the physical didn't serve.

I turned 18 in May, graduated from HS in June. Three months after graduating I was "called" for the draft. By that time I was in college and enrolled in ROTC thereby earning a deferment. I had to furnish the local drat board my status as a student and an ROTC Cadet every semester I was in school. Some of my "non-colored" classmates, also in school and in ROTC did not have to furnish such proof. As least, they say they didn't.

Makes me wonder what kind of "marking" might have been used to consistently select me with the draft being a "lottery" type operation.

Art Thomas

p.s. course this was after WW I & WW II And I eventually served 4 years in the US Air Force.